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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Yes, I've been away from my blog. I don't really have a reason. I've just been happy to catch up on some real life stuff that has needed doing for ages. I cleaned out my laundry cupboards, saw friends, spoke on the phone to distant loved ones, visited my mum and my mum-in-law, played a board game with my man, did some more organising in my studio (why does my studio need far more organising than any other room???) and figured out what little handmade goodie I will make all my friends for Christmas this year. (I can't tell you what it is because very occasionally some of them have a little look here. I didn't tell you last year either. I probably can now as they all got them for Christmas. I knitted a washcloth, bought custom made guest soaps from Inner Earth Soaps and popped one of each into a handmade box with some Chinese Lucky Stars I made out of the scraps from making the box for extra good luck. I can reveal that this years present isn't knitted and isn't crocheted either. I'd planned to crochet something but just wasn't happy with any of the patterns I found.)

Anyway, in honour of my being away I am doing my Saturday Shopping List post from items found by searching 'away' over at Etsy.

Due to a little typo in the listings title, this little gem showed up in my 'away' search. I'm happy about that because it's good to be reminded of this at times, especially if perfectionism is raising it's ugly head. (I think this could be why I am not showing you any of my own work at the moment!)

I think I am getting over my perfectionist stage. After all I am letting myself do my Saturday Shopping List post on Sunday! Remember to check out the other Saturday Shopping List posts by clicking on the links at fancypicnic.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

This is all very fascinating but do you think you could spice it up a bit for the readers?

I'd really like to talk about someone else, if you don't mind.Yesterday I met lots of lovely local artists and crafts people. I was lucky enough to be asked to speak at a Marketing and Networking Forum at Bellingen. We all had a great day. I'd like to talk about the people I met there!

Like who?

Well, Ashley Johnston was one of the other speakers. He is a local and international street artist and has now opened his own studio gallery. He was fascinating! You can see his work on Big City Freaks website. He uses Snarl as his street name (I don't know if he wants me to say 'tag' so I won't. There seems to be a lot of rules.)Like what?

Apparently if one was just starting out doing a bit of graffiti here and tagging there, one would NEVER spray over the work of a better or more experienced artist (better, more experienced = respect). Apparently if one did there would be 'consequences.' The nature of these consequences were not disclosed.

Damn. I really wanted to know!

Yeah, me too.Maybe you could ask him when you visit his gallery. Head off to corner of Vernon and Duke Streets Coffs Harbour on a Wednesday or Saturday and Ashley will entertain you with delightful paintings of birds (Willy Wagtails are my favourite birds too) and other works on canvas with a graffiti flavour. And you can see his graffiti on the outside of the building too, or in 'Snarl Lane' nearby. Tell him I sent you.

Sounds like a really interesting day. Who else did you meet?

I met Jane Wilson, another local artist with more usual art practise than Ashley's, but no less an impressive one! The thing I particularly love about Jane's work is the range of her subject matter, from mandarines to the nude and from self portraits to landscapes. If you are near Bellingen you can see her work currently on exhibition in the Federal Hotel.And the others?There were lots! My friend Annie Matheson travelled out with me and supported me in that little rush of nerves just before I started speaking by giving me a couple of squirts under my tongue with a herbal remedy that really helped! She is such an inspiration in so many ways. I must have been able to inspire her for once because she rushed home afterwards and started adding more artwork to her Etsy shop. Now that is the kind of reaction I was after!What were you speaking about at the forum?

I was showing off Etsy and DUST (the Down Under Street Team of Etsy). I showed how the Etsy site works, how easy it is to use and that it doesn't require a large outlay of money to get started. I also really wanted to show them the DUST team because it has been such a help to me personally over the last year or so and such a wonderful group to be involved in. I'm hoping that soon we will have a strong North Coast contingent in the NSW section of the forum. That's my goal!

What did they think about Etsy etc?

I'm pretty sure they enjoyed my talk, I know I got lots of questions which was great! I could really only give them a taste of it in the time I had, but I'll be sending them a list of links I've done up to help them get started. I'd say most of the people there hadn't heard of Etsy before yesterday. While the website it growing hugely I think it shows the potential of it's future growth. If we can all tell another 20 or so people who haven't heard of Etsy, well, that will be a great boost for makers from all over the world, because really, who can resist buying stuff off Etsy!?

I know I can't!

No, me neither!

One last question, when did you decide to take talking to yourself to the next level and start interviewing yourself?

It wasn't a conscious decision. It is something that just evolved. I quite like it though. I think I might ask you some questions next time, when I get the links to the other lovely artists I met. OK?